This morning I wrote an article on the dailyreporter.lk, news website about the demise of Venerable Baddegama Samitha thero. I concluded that article as follows,
“Though his demise due to Covid-19, caused to deep sense of grief, his body will be carried to the grave by the oppressed people who he has always loved. Otherwise, his body will be taken away by a group of bloody racists who oppose his principles. ”
(Read the full article at https://www.dailyreporter.lk/baddegama-samitha-himi/)
However, as we had heard in afternoon the news of the cremation of the Ven. Thero was even more heartbreaking.
It appeared that Co-cabinet Spokesman, Minister Ramesh Pathirana had taken the lead of cremation ceramony. The police who do not allow gathering more than four people gave a great support in this. According to the speech of thanks, the Divisional Secretary, who is the Chief Public Officer of Baddegama, has also given his full support to this operation.
The political elite, administrative officers and the police that mean whole government have used the demise of Venerable Samitha Thera for their opportunistic political goals. That is the legacy of abuse in Rajapaksa regime.
The demise of Samitha Thera is used today just as the death of Thondaman was used then. How insulting it is to treat Samitha thera and Thondaman on an equal footing?
It is the well-disciplined, dignitary clergies who motivate and encourage the government to do all this. Like the government, ruling monks have the potential to break the law. That is what Baddegama showed today.
Venerable Samitha Thera, a bhikkhu who respected the rule of law; but today, the cremation was carried out with violation of the law. Venerable Samitha Thera, became victim of Rajapaksa regime while he was alive, now after the death his body also becomes a victim of Rajapaksa regime.
-Dulan Dassanayake-
FB Live broadcast of Samitha Thera’s cremation
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=184107553623474&id=100060726902662
https://www.facebook.com/baddegama.api.3/videos/184172813616948/